Railway bootleg



H, L. BONE Feb. 7, 1939.

RAILWAY BOOTLEG Filed Nov. 18, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1939. H! L BONE 2,146,462

RAILWAY BOOTLEG Filed NOV. 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIS ATTORNEY RAILWAY BOOTLEG Filed NOV. 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HCI H b INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES RAILWAY BOOTLEG Herbert L. Bone, Forest Hills, Pa., assigner to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 18, 1936, Serial No. 111,462

9 Claims.

My invention relates to railway bootlegs, that is, tol devicesfor connecting electrical conductors with the track rails of a railway.

The present application is a continuation-inpart or` my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States, SerialNo. 62,328, led on February 4, 19.36, for Railway bootlegs.

I will describe three forms of bootlegs embodying. my invention, and will then point out the 10 novel featuresthereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing one form of bootleg embodying my invention. Fig. la is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of the bootlegshown in. Fig. 1. Fig. 1b is a top plan view of the bootlegl as shown in Fig. 1a. Fig. 1c is a top plan view of the clamping member $0 forming part of the bootleg shown in Figs. l, 1a, and b. Figs. ld` and le are front and side elevational views of theV member 60 shown in Fig. le. Fig. 1fy is a top plan view of the clamping member 60A forming part of the bootleg shown in Figs. 1 la, and` 1b. Figs. lg and 1h are front and side elevational views, respectively, of the clamping member 60A shown in Fig. lf. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view showing another form of bootleg embodying my invention. Fig. 2a. is a sideV view, partly in section. and partly in elevation ofthe bootleg shown` in Fig. 2, certain of the parts being broken away or removed to better illustrate the construction of the remaining parts. Fig. 2b is a top plan view of the bootleg asshown in Fig. 2a. Fig. 2c is a side view of the clamping member 'lforming part of the bootleg shown in the preceding Views as this clamping member appears when viewed from the right in Fig. 2. Fig. 2d is a top plan View of the member 'lllv forming partof the bootleg shown in'Figs. 2, 2a, and 2b. Figs. 2e and 2f are-front and side elevational views, respectively,k of the member l0 shown in Fig. 2d. Figs. 2g, 2h, and 2i are top plan, front, and side elevational views, respectively, of the member HJa` forming part of the bootleg shown in Figs. 2 2a, and 2b. Fig. 3 is a top plan View showing a modificationY of the bootleg shown in Figs. 2 2a, and 2b. Fig, 3a is a view showing in isometric projection the clamping member 161 of thek bootleg shown in Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Refer-ring first to Figs. 1, la., and lb, the bootleg in the form here Shown comprises a suitable housing such as a pipe E l, the lower end ofvwhich, when the bootleg is in service, will be embedded in the ground, and the upper end of which will project above thesurface of the ground. The lower end of the pipe 6| is provided with an integral bell-shaped flange Bib by means of which the pipe 6| may be securely anchored in place. An electrical conductor, here shown as an insulated wire P, is brought up from the ground through the pipe 6|, and the flange Gib, in addition to serving as a means for anchoring the pipe 6l in place, also serves to prevent the formation of a sharp bend in the wire P at the point where the wire enters the pipe.-

The bootleg also comprises a head assembly consisting of three clamping members 66, A, and. As best seen in Figs. 1c, 1d, and le, the clamping member 50 comprises a horizontal portion 60a which is adapted to close approximately one-halfV of the upper end of the pipe 6|, an upwardly extending T-shaped portion 60h which is formed integrally with the horizontal portion 60a, a depending lug 60o which is also formed integrally with the horizontal portion 60a, and a split collar 69d which is likewise formed integrally with the horizontal portion 69a, and which is adapted to surround the upper end of the pipe 6l. The two ends of the collar 60d are provided With lugs 60k and 60! which are apertured to receive a clamping bolt 62a., whereby the member 50 may be securely fastened to the upper end of the pipe 6|. The clamping member 6i) is insulated from the pipe El by an insulating member 63 having a cylindrical portion which is disposedbetween the pipe and the collar 60d, and a flangeportion which is disposed between the upper end of the pipe and the horizontal portion 60a of the member BD. The lug lillois provided with a groove 62e which receives a portion of the wire P below its non-insulated upper end Pa, and the T-shaped portion SBZ; is provided in one side thereof with a groove @of which aligns axially with, andforms a continuation of, the groove 50e, and which receives the non-insulated upper end of the wire Pa.. The upwardly extending T- shaped portion Sila is also provided in its opposite sides with horizontally extending grooves 607' which receive the two wires of a rail conductor RC.

The clamping member 60A comprisesv a semicylindrical horizontal lower portion GUAa (see Figs. lf, 1g, and 1h) which closes that portion of the pipe 6l which is not closed by the horizontal portion 60a of the member 60, a vertical portion 60M) which is formed integral with the horizontal portion BDAG., and a depending lug SDAc which is also formed integral with the horizontal portion SDAa. The lug BDAc is provided with a groove 6||Ae which mates with the groove 60e in the lug 6|lc of the member 6|), while the vertical portion BlAbis provided with a groove 60A7` which mates with the groove 60j in the T-shaped upper portion 60h of the member 60.

The clamping member 66 has a, groove 667' in one side thereof which mates with the adjacent groove 667 in the side of the T-shaped upper portion 66D of the member 60. The three clamping members are securely fastened together by a single clamping bolt 62, which, when tightened, causes the wire P and the two wires of the rail connector RC to be firmly secured in their respective grooves, and also causes the wire P to have good electrical contact with the clamping members and with the wires of the rail connector.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 2a, and 2b, the bootleg in the form here shown'comprises a pipe 1| similar to the pipe 6| shown in Fig. 1 provided at its upper end with a head assembly consisting of three clamping members 10, 10A, and 16. The Vclamping member 16 is similar to the clamping member 6|] of the bootleg shown in Figs. 1, la, and 1b with the exception that the horizontal portion 10a (see Fig. 2d) covers a smaller portion of the top of the pipe 1| than the portion 60a of the member 60 covers of the top of the pipe 6|, and the vertical portion 10bI thereof, instead of being T-shaped, is made straight and is provided in its upper surface with a notch 10m, and at one end with a lug 101i. The clamping member 10 is secured to the pipe 1| by means of a bolt 12a which passes through apertured lugs 10k and 101 provided on the ends of the split collar 10d, and is insulated fromthe pipe by an insulating member 13 similar to the insulating member 63. The notch 10m is adapted to receive the bent upper non-insulated end Pa of the wire P in the manner shown in Fig. 2a, whereby the wire may be suspended from the head assembly before the other clamping members are bolted in place, and the depending lug 10c of the member 16 is provided with a groove 10e which extends downwardly below the notch 10m and receives a portion of the wire P from which the insulation has not been removed. The groove 10e is provide-d with a rib 16h which partly closes this groove, the groove 10e and the rib 10h being similar to the corresponding grooves and ribs shown in the preceding views. The vertical portion 1Gb of the member 10 is further provided in its inner face with a groove 107`for the reception of one of the Wires of a rail connector RC, as will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings. k

The clamping member 16 is preferably constructed of bronze and is disposed adjacent the grooved face of the vertical portion 10b of the clamping member 10. Formed in the face of the member 16 which is contiguous to the grooved face or" the vertical portion 10b are grooves 16e and 161i which are similar to, and which mate with, the grooves 10e and 10j, respectively, in the portion 16h in the manner shown. The clamping member 16 is also provided in the face which is contiguous to the grooved face of the vertical portion 16h of the clamping member 10 with a third groove 16jl which forms a continuation of the groove 16e and which receives thel non-insulated upper end Pa of the wire P. The groove 16e is partly closed by a rib 16h which is similar to, and mates with, the rib 10h in the groove 10e. During assembly of the parts, the one end of the clamping member 16 rests on the top surface of the lug 10k, while the other end is supported by anv integral projection 16a which rests on the lug 1011,. The face of the member 16 opposite to that which is provided with the grooves 16e, 16,1, and 16j is provided with another groove 167` which receives the remaining wire of the rail connector RC.

The clamping member 10A comprises a vertical portion 10Ab (see Figs. 2g, 2h, and 2i) which is Adisposed adjacent the face of the clamping member 16 which is opposite to the face which cooperates with the wire P, a lower integralV horizontally extending portion 10Aa which closes the portion of the top of the pipe 1| which is not closed by the other clamp-ing members, and an upper horizontally extending portion 10Ac which projects over the top of the clamping member 16 and the top of the vertical portion 10b of the clamping member 1I). The vertical portion 1|)Abi of the ymember 16A is provided with a groove 16M which mates with the groove 16j in the adjacent face of the member 16. The three clamping members are secured together by means of a bolt 12 which passes through aligned holes in the member 16 and the vertical portions 16h and mAb of the clamping members 10 and 10A, and it will be apparent that when the bolt 12 is tightened the one wire of the rail connector RC and the wire P will be rigidly secured between the vertical portion 10b of the clamping member 16 and the clamping member 16, while k It should be noted that the upper horizontal :-l

portion 10Ac of the member 1l) is rectangular in shape, and that the one end of this horizontal portion is connected with the lower portion 10Aa by a tapered portion 10Ad. The reason for constructing the member 16A in this manner is `to reduce to a minimum the liabilityof damage due to dragging railway equipment.

It should also be noted that the upper horizontal portion 10Ac of the member 10 is provided at its free edges with downwardly extending lips 16A7c and 10Ae which prevent the direct entrance of water into the pipe between the clamping members, but that, suiiicient clearance is provided between the two clamping members 1U and 10A to allow for sufficient ventilation to prevent the condensation of moisture inside of the pipe 1|.

One advantage of the bootleg shown in Figs, 2, 2a, and 2b is that the wire P can be loosely hooked in its final position in the bootleg assembly after the member 10 is clamped in place on the post 1 I, and as a result less slack is required in the wire P than is required in the form of the bootleg shownin Figs. 1, 1a, and 1b.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the chief difference between the bootleg here shown and that shown in Figs. 2, 2a, and 2b resides in the construction of the middle clamping member which is here des.- ignated 161. This clamping member is provided at its outer end with an extension 16k which projects outwardly for some distance beyond the forward edges of the vertical portions 10b and 1Ab of the cooperating clamping members 10 and 16A,

and as shown in Fig. 3a, has its upper edge cut l l 16k, and then bent downwardly into a transversely extending recess 161 which is provided in the top of the extension 16k,4 for a purpose presently to be described. The clampingmember 161 is also provided with an L -shaped slot 16m, the vertical leg of which` extends upwardly from, and forms a continuation ofthe hole through which the clamping bolt 'I2 is adapted to pass, andthe horizontal leg of which extends forwardly from, and forms a` continuation of, the hole through which the clamping bolt 'I2 is adapted to pass. The slot 76m is intended to receive the rail connector RCI, whichA rail connector will preferably comprise a continuous stranded wire bent into a U-shape as shown in Fig. 3a, and thev recess 'IBI together with the two arms of the rail connector RCI forms a well which. can be iilledwith solder, thus sealing the wire P and the rail connector together, and hence providing a good connection between these parts and theV clamping member 16. It should be noted that this solderingl can be done after the bootleg is assembled by means of an ordinary soldering iron. The remainder of the clamping member 161 is identical in construction with the previously described clamping member 15, and the corresponding parts of the two clamping members are designated by the same reference characters. It is believed, therefore, that the construction of the bootleg shown in Fig. 3, as a whole, will beunderstood from the foregoing and from an inspection ofthe drawings without further detailed description.

One advantage of the form of bootleg shown in Fig. 3 over that shown in the preceding views is that since the wire P, the rail connector RCI, and the clamping plate 161 are all soldered together, a low resistance connection which will not be affected by excessive condensation or verdigris is insured.

Another advantage of the form of bootleg shown in Fig. 3 over that shown in the preceding views is that the rail connector RCI is securely anchored to the bootleg head in such manner that this rail connector cannot be pulled away from the bootleg head by dragging equipment without actually breaking the rail connector.

It should be particularly pointed out that while with the form of bootleg shown in Fig. 3 it is preferable to make the rail connector RCI in a U- shape in the manner described, this connector may if desired comprise two separate stranded wires arranged as shown in the preceding views.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of railway bootlegs embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A bootleg for connecting an electric conductor with a rail connector comprising a tubular housing projecting upwardly from the ground; a head assembly comprising a rst member having a rst portion which partly closes the top of said housing, a second portion which projects upwardly from said first portion, a grooved third portion which projects downwardly from said first portion within said housing and receives said conductor and an integral split collar which surrounds the upper end of said housing, apertured lugs formed on the ends of said split collar, means for insulating said member from said housing, a bolt passing through said lugs for securing said first member and said insulating means to said housing, and a second member secured to the upwardly extending portion of said rst member and provided with means for closing the otherwisev uncovered portion of said housing and with means for clamping said conductor within said grooved portion and for electrically and mechanically connecting said conductor and said rail connector.`

2. A` bootleg for connecting an insulated electricaly ccnductor withl a rail connector comprising atubular housing projecting upwardly from the ground and enclosing the conductor, a rst metal member provided with a split collar portion which surrounds the upper end of said housing and is clamped thereto but insulated therefrom and with a horizontal portion which partly closes the top of said housing and with a grooved lug which projects downwardly from said horizontal portion within said housing and receives an insulated portion of said conductor and with a vertical portion provided at its upper end with a notch which receives the hook-shaped upper end of said conductor directly above said grooved lug, whereby said conductor may be loosely suspended from said rst member, and a second member secured to the vertical portion of said i'irst member and provided with means for clamping the insulated portion of said conductor within the groove in said lug and for electrically and mechanically connecting said conductor and said rail connector.

3. A bootleg for connecting an insulated electrical conductor with a rail connector comprising a tubular housing projecting upwardly from the ground and enclosing the conductor, a iirst metal member provided with .a split collar portion which surrounds the upper end of said housing and is clamped thereto but insulated therefrom and with a horizontal portion which partly closes the top ofV said housing and with a grooved lug which projects downwardly from said horizontal portion within said housing and receives an insulated portionl of said conductor and with a vertical portion, and a second member secured to the vertical portion of said first member and provided with means for clamping the insulated portion of said conductor within the groove in said lug and for electrically and mechanically connecting said conductor and said rail connector.

4. A bootleg for connecting an insulated electrical conductor with a two wire rail connector comprising a housing projecting upwardly from the ground and metal member secured to the upper end of said housing and provided with a horizontal portion which partly closes the top of said housing and with a vertical portion, a second member clamped to the vertical portion of sai-d iirst member and provided with a horizontal portion which closes the portion of the top of said housing which is not closed by said rst member, and a third metal member clamped to the vertical portion of said first member at the side opposite said rst member, a bare portion of said con-ductor and one wire of said rail connector being disposed between said rst and second members, and the other wire of said rail connector being disposed between said iirst and third members, whereby said conductor and the two wires of said rail connector are electrically and mechanically secured together.

5. A bootleg for connecting an insulated electrical conductor with a two wire rail connector comprising a housing projecting upwardly from the ground and enclosing the conductor, the upper end of said conductor having the insulation removed therefrom, a rst metal member secured enclosing the conductor, a rst a to the upper end of said housing and provided with an integral vertical portion, a second metal member vdisposed adjacent one side of the vertical portion of said first member` in a vertical position, a third metal member having a vertical portion disposed adjacent the outer side of said second member and having a horizontal portion which projects over said second member and the vertical portion of said first member, the bare portion of said conductor and one wire of said rail connector being disposed between the vertical portion of said rst member and said second member, and the other wire of said rail connector being disposed between said second member and the vertical portion of said third member, and means for clamping all of said parts together to electrically and mechanically connect said conductor with the two wires of said rail connector.

6. A bootleg for connecting an insulated electrical conductor with a rail connector comprising a housing projecting upwardly from the ground and enclosing the conductor, a rst metal member secured to the upper end of said housing and provided with a vertical portion and with a depending grooved lug which receives an insulated portion of said conductor, a second member dis- `posed adjacent one side of the vertical portion of said rst member and provided with a groove which mates with a groove in said vertical portion for the reception of said rail connector, means for clamping said two members together to clamp said connector in said mating grooves and the insulated portion of said conductor in the groove in said lug and a bare portion of said conductor above said insulated portion between sai-d two members, and means including a laterally projecting lug on one of said members for positioning said two members relative to each other prior to clamping them together.

7. A bootleg for connecting an insulated electrical conductor with a rail connector comprising a housing projecting upwardly from the ground and enclosing the conductor, a rst metal member secured to the upper end of said housing and provided with a horizontal portion which projects inwardly over the top of the housing and with a grooved lug which projects downwardly from said horizontal portion within said housing and receives an insulated portion of said conductor and with a vertical portion which projects upwardly from said horizontal portion, and a second member secured to the vertical portion of said first member and provided with means for clamping said conductor within the groove in said lug and with'means including a well for the reception oi solder for mechanically and electrically connecting said conductor and said rail connector.

8. A bootleg for connecting a conductor with a U-shaped rail connector comprising a metal member provided in its upper side with an L- shaped groove through'which the rail connector passes and formed with a recess which receives the end of said conductor and which with the two legs of said connector forms a well for the 'reception of solder for soldering together'said conductor and said rail connector to provide good electrical connection between them, and clamping means for forcing the legs of said connector against the sides of said metal member and for gripping said conductor to mechanically connect said conductor and said connector.

9. A bootleg for connecting an insulated electric conductor with a U-shaped rail connector comprising a' metal member provided in its upper side with an L-shaped groove through which the rail connector passes and formed with a recess which receives the end of said conductor and which with the two legs of said connector forms a well for the reception of solder for soldering together a portion of said conductor from which the insulation has been removed and said rail connector to provide good electrical connection between them, and clamping means for forcing the legs of said connector against the sides of said metal member and for gripping an insulated portion of said conductor below said non-insulated portion to mechanically connect said conductor and said connector.

HERBERT L. BONE. 

